Do-It-Yourself Portable Barbeque Pit

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #5, Page #35

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If you played with Lincoln Logs as a kid, you can build your own outdoor barbeque pit with do-it-yourself “logs” from an innovative Massachusetts company. One big bonus of the new firepit is that you can easily take it apart to move it.
    The “logs” are handmade in a Maine factory out of Norlite, a derivative of shale, that’s been tempered and mixed with binder cement. Each 5 1/2 by 5 1/2-in. piece has steel rebar inside for added strength. Pieces range from 12 to 42 in. long, with the heaviest pieces weighing in at 35 lbs.
    Charlie Reynolds, owner of Precast Outdoor Fireplaces, saw the fireplace design for the first time nearly 20 years ago. He convinced the New England family that made them as a hobby that he could market them to others.
    Permanent brick firepits often crack because of severe winters and frost heaves, Reynolds points out. The precast fireplaces are free floating and flex at the joints.
    They are also very safe.
    “You can touch the outside and it doesn’t get hot,” he says. “There is no heat coming off the sides or back of the fireplace.”
    He recommends placing it at least 2 ft. from flammable surfaces. Many customers place it on the decks of in-ground pools. Some move the fireplace between their residence and seasonal home. A few carry pieces in to remote areas, while others ferry them to islands. Many customers set up the barbeque pits permanently in backyards.
    Reynolds takes his for tailgating at Patriot games. By the time the game is over, the fire is out, and the links are cool and ready to disassemble to transport home.
    Fireplaces range from the 10-piece Deluxe Firepit ($349) to the Mt. Katahdin, complete with a chimney and table tops on each side ($1,589).
    “The Acadia is my best seller at $1,189,” Reynolds says. It also has a chimney, which eliminates the problem of swirling campfire smoke, and the generous double 24 by 26-in. grills can cook 16 sirloin steaks at a time. (The bottom grill holds the charcoal or glowing red wood coals.)
    The kits are shipped by truck. As an example of cost, the biggest model, the Mt. Katahdin (6 by 8 ft. and 2,300 lbs.) was shipped to Alaska for $400. Comes with a 1-year unconditional guarantee.
FREE Firepit Construction Guide: www.boulderhomesource.com/fire-pit-guide/
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Precast Outdoor Fireplaces, 189 Anna Dr., East Bridgewater, Mass. 02333 (ph 508 378-7742; www.precastoutdoorfireplaces.com).

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Do-It-Yourself Portable Barbeque Pit FARM HOME Food If you played with Lincoln Logs as a kid you can build your own outdoor barbeque pit with do-it-yourself “logs” from an innovative Massachusetts company One big bonus of the new firepit is that you can easily take it apart to move it The “logs” are handmade in a Maine factory out of Norlite a derivative of shale that’s been tempered and mixed with binder cement Each 5 1/2 by 5 1/2-in piece has steel rebar inside for added strength Pieces range from 12 to 42 in long with the heaviest pieces weighing in at 35 lbs Charlie Reynolds owner of Precast Outdoor Fireplaces saw the fireplace design for the first time nearly 20 years ago He convinced the New England family that made them as a hobby that he could market them to others Permanent brick firepits often crack because of severe winters and frost heaves Reynolds points out The precast fireplaces are free floating and flex at the joints They are also very safe “You can touch the outside and it doesn’t get hot ” he says “There is no heat coming off the sides or back of the fireplace ” He recommends placing it at least 2 ft from flammable surfaces Many customers place it on the decks of in-ground pools Some move the fireplace between their residence and seasonal home A few carry pieces in to remote areas while others ferry them to islands Many customers set up the barbeque pits permanently in backyards Reynolds takes his for tailgating at Patriot games By the time the game is over the fire is out and the links are cool and ready to disassemble to transport home Fireplaces range from the 10-piece Deluxe Firepit $349 to the Mt Katahdin complete with a chimney and table tops on each side $1 589 “The Acadia is my best seller at $1 189 ” Reynolds says It also has a chimney which eliminates the problem of swirling campfire smoke and the generous double 24 by 26-in grills can cook 16 sirloin steaks at a time The bottom grill holds the charcoal or glowing red wood coals The kits are shipped by truck As an example of cost the biggest model the Mt Katahdin 6 by 8 ft and 2 300 lbs was shipped to Alaska for $400 Comes with a 1-year unconditional guarantee FREE Firepit Construction Guide: www boulderhomesource com/fire-pit-guide/ Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Precast Outdoor Fireplaces 189 Anna Dr East Bridgewater Mass 02333 ph 508 378-7742; www precastoutdoorfireplaces com

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